Geography of Belarus

A look at where Belarus fits into the jigsaw of Europe, with maps of the country and an overview of major Belarus cities and regions

Where exactly is Belarus?

Belarus is situated in the centre of Europe, and has international borders with five countries:

Russia

Ukraine

Poland

Lithuania

Latvia

Although a landlocked state, the location has made Belarus an important trade and transport route between Europe and the CIS.

The total land area of Belarus is more than 207,000 square kilometers.

What is the capital of Belarus?

Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is located in the centre of the country.

Minsk today is a modern international city. The first recorded mention of the city goes back to 1067.

Over the course of its chequered history, Minsk has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times, most recently after World War 2, when it was almost completely destroyed.

More than 1.9 million people live in Minsk today. It has excellent transport links including Minsk airport, several major train stations, the Minsk metro underground network, and a well-developed road system.

What are the main regions of Belarus?

The country of Belarus is divided into six administrative districts, each centred around a major city: